Disinfectant composition



United States Patent Ofiflce 3,017,278 DISINFECTANT COMPOSITION Robert M. Laif, 2844 Gregory St., Chicago, Ill. No Drawing. Filed May 11, 1959, Ser. No. 812,100 7 Claims. (Cl. 106-13) oxide condensate, containing 10 moles ethylene oxide per mole of nonyl phenol, and a high molecular weight alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, having the formula wherein R represents a mixture of alkyls ranging from s u t ia a'i- A serious problem that has existed in the dental art for sometime has been the optical distortion and fogging of the reflecting surface of dental mouth mirrors or the formation of water beads thereon caused by breath moisture or by Water sprays used in connection with watercooled, high-speed drilling. In the past, various methods .have been employed in an effort to alleviate this problem,

such as air blasts, rotating mirrors and suctions; but these procedures have generally been found to be ineffective,

cumbersome and, in many instances, too noisy. .Moreover, these methods generally did not provide a convenient means for sterilizing the mirrors or for main- .taining the sterility of such mirrors during their use.

Accordingly, it is one object of this invention to provide a composition of matter which affords a relatively simple and sterile means of preventing fogging and distortion of the dental mouth mirror reflection. The prevention of such fogging and distortion and the concomitant disinfection of such mirrors is accomplished by coating the mirrors with the composition of this invention. Such coating is effected by simply immersing the mirror in an open, small glass jar containing a solution prepared in accordance with this invention. By repeatedly dipping the mirror in the prescribed fashion, the fog-resistant and sterile character of the mirror is maintained throughout its use. When this invention is employed in the aforesaid manner, relatively minor proportions of the ingredients are used so as to avoid any unpleasant tastes of toxic effects.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a general cleaning, disinfecting and preserving medium for medical and dental instruments. The common disinfectants known to the prior art were found to have marked limitations in that the instruments to be sterilized had to be carefully washed with soap and water and throughly rinsed before being subjected to the disinfectant process. Such preliminary washing was necessary to remove undesirable greases and oils which, if not removed, substantially impaired the germicidal properties of the disinfectant by forming a protective film over the bacteria through which the germicide, especially in an aqueous solution, generally could not penetrate Within a reasonable time period. Furthermore, a thorough rinsing of the instruments following the washing thereof was found to be necessary because of the tendency of the soaps or Patented Jan. 16, 1962 other washing solutions to react with the disinfectant medium, causing a reduction, and ultimately a substantial destruction of germicidal properties. The composition of this invention avoids the limitations found in the prior art by providing a single solution having both strong grease and oil film destroying characteristics and strong germicidal properties. Thus, when using the composition herein as a general disinfectant, this combination of properties in one solution obviates in some instances the need for the initial washing process heretofore necessary when sterilizing medical and dental instruments. Moreover, in those situations where preliminary washing is still desirable, this invention may be used in lieu of the soaps and other washing solutions heretofore used, thereby avoiding the danger of possible destruction of the germicidal properties of the disinfectant which occurred when said soaps or other washing solutions were not thoroughly rinsed from the instruments prior to their placement in the disinfectant medium.

In accordance with this invention, the composition herein can be produced by adding nonyl phenoxy polyoxyethylene ethanol, a nonylphenol-ethylene oxide condensate containing 10 moles ethylene oxide per mole of nonyl phenol to an aqueous solution of alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride having the formula CH3 Cl" dental mirrors; however, when the composition is to be employed as a general disinfectant of medical and dental instruments, percentages of nonyl phenoxy po1yoxy ethylene ethanol ranging from 0.3 to 20 weight percent may be used, although compositions containing about l2 weight percent are preferred. With respect to the application of this invention to dental mirrors, small amounts of coloring and flavoring may be added to the composition in order to impart an agreeable color and taste to the solution, but the presence of such coloring and flavoring is not necessary.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, specific examples are here given which more fully disclose the compositions contemplated within the scope of this invention, and their method of preparation.

Example 1 128 ounces of an aqueous solution of 12.8 weight percent high molecular weight alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, containing one part 12.8 weight percent alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride for every 127 parts distilled water, were added to 2.13 ounces of nonyl phenoxy polyoxyethylene ethanol, a nonyl phenol ethylene oxide condensate, and the solution was agitated until it became uniform. Added to this composition were 0.04 ounce of blue vegetable dye and 0.08 ounce of ordinary tooth paste flavor, which imparted a light blue color and a slightly sweetened taste to the solution. The resulting solution was found to be sterile and to impart fog and optical distortion resistant properties to dental mirrors.

Example 2 128 ounces of an aqueous solution of 12.8 percent high molecular weight alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, containing one part 12.8 weight percent alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride for every 127 parts distilled Water, were added to 0.5 ounce of a nonyl phenoxy polyoxyethylene ethanol, and the solution was thoroughly mixed until desired uniformity was attained. Added to this composition were 0.04 ounce of blue vegetable dye and 0.08 ounce tooth paste flavoring. The resulting solution was found to be sterile and to impart fog and optical distortion resistant properties to dental mirrors.

Example 3 128 ounces of an aqueous solution of 12.8 percent high molecular weight alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, containing one part 12.8 weight percent alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride per 127 parts distilled water, were added to 17.04 ounces of a nonyl phenoxy polyoxyethylene ethanol, and the solution was thoroughly mixed until it became uniform. The resulting composition was found to have strong germicidal and strong surface-active properties.

While several embodiments of this invention are shown above, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A composition of matter consisting essentially of an aqueous solution of about 0.0025 to about 0.15 percent by weight of high molecular weight alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride wherein said alkyl group contains from 8 to 18 carbon atoms and about 0.3 to about 20 percent by weight nonyl phenoxy polyoxyethylene ethanol.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride has the formula:

4 wherein R represents a mixture of alkyls ranging from C8H1'7 to C18H37- 3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the nonyl phenoxy polyoxyethylene ethanol is present in amounts ranging from about 0.3 to about 3.0 percent by weight.

4. The composition of matter consisting essentially of an aqueous solution of about 0.1 percent by weight alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride wherein said alkyl group contains from 8 to 18 carbon atoms and about 1.6 percent by Weight nonyl phenoxy polyoxyethylene ethanol.

5. A composition of matter consisting essentially of an aqueous solution of about 0.1 percent by weight alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride wherein said alkyl group contains from 8 to 18 carbon atoms and about 12 percent by weight nonyl phenoxy polyoxyethylene ethanol.

6. A method of disinfecting and preventing moisture accumulation on medical and dental mirror surfaces comprising immersing said mirrors into a composition of matter consisting essentially of an aqueous solution of about 0.0025 to about 0.15 percent by Weight high molecular weight alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride wherein said alkyl group contains from 8 to 18 carbon atoms and about 0.3 to about 3 percent by weight nonyl phenoxy polyoxyethylene ethanol.

7. A method of disinfecting medical and dental instru ments and preserving them in a sterile state, comprising immersing said instruments into a composition of matter consisting essentially of an aqueous solution of 0.0025 to about 0.15 percent by weight high molecular weight alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride wherein said alkyl group contains from 8 to 18 carbon atoms and about 0.3 to about 20 percent by weight nonyl phenoxy polyoxyethylene ethanol.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,726,962 Iorio Dec. 13, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 767,955 Great Britain Dec. 13, 1957 OTHER REFERENCES The Condensed Chem. Dictionary, 4th ed., Reinhold Pub. Corp., N.Y., page 68. 

1. A COMPOSITION OF MATTER CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF ABOUT 0.0025 TO ABOUT 0.15 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT ALKYL DIMETHYL BENZYL AMMONIUM CHLORIDE WHEREIN SAID ALKYL GROUP CONTAINS FROM 8 TO 18 CARBON ATOMS AND ABOUT 0.3 TO ABOUT 20 PERCENT BY WEIGHT NONYL PHENOXY POLOXYETHYLENE ETHANOL. 